Locking universal joint for use with dental articulators and the like



April 24, 1951 W DE LAUTOUR 2,550,043

LOCKING UNIVERSAL JOINT FOR USE WITH DENTAL ARTICULATORS AND THE LIKEFiled Feb. 8, 1946 I200 erai'zzz ll. cZmLZaui/ o (10.8

Patented Apr. 24, 1951 LOCKING UNIVERSAL JOINT FOR USE WITH DENTALARTICULATORS AND THE LIKE Walter de Lautour, Gisborne, New ZealandApplication February 8, 1946, Serial No. 646,356 In New Zealand November8, 1945 3 Claims. (01. 32-32) This invention relates to lockinguniversal joints for use with dental articulators and the like and moreparticularly for use with jaws of articulators which hold bite blocks,dental models or the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a locking universal joint foruse with dental articulators or the like wherein a holder for a biteblock is adjustable easily and quickly as required in making dentalplates, that is adjustable to varying sizes of bite blocks and to holdthe latter, and a locking universal joint which can be adjusted withinits limits to infinite variations easily and quickly in order to correctany error, however small, in the articulation or bite, while trying in,before completing a denture. A further object is to save labour andmaterial in preparing dental plates by eliminating steps in the usualmethod of making dental plates and in so doing reduce the wastage ofmaterial hitherto used in the preparation of dental plates.

According to this invention a locking universal joint for use with adental articulator having a supporting jaw or the like and a holder fora bite block comprises a holder for a bite block having means forretaining a bite block when adjusted to its size, and a universaljointing means capable of attaching the holder to a supporting jaw orthe like of a dental articulator, said latter means being adjustable toinfinite degrees within its limits to gain desired adjustment betweenthe holder and the supporting jaw.

The invention will now be further described with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an articulator supporting twolocking universal joints.

Figure 2 is a plan View of Figure 1 while Figure 3 is an elevationalfront view in cross section on line AA of Figure 1.

With reference to the drawings the holder comprises a platform I having,on its under surface at one side, adjustable screw bolts 2 with fingergrips 3, screw threaded through studs or posts 4 aflixed to the platformI, while an opposite side of the platform I has a stop 5 which may be aturned up or a turned down side of the platform I with a turned in andserrated edge 6. Thus a bite block I, see Figure 1, can be placed on theplatform I and retained thereon between the inner ends of the screwbolts 2 projecting through the studs, posts or the like 4 and adjustedto the size of the bite block I, and the serrated edge 6 of the stop 5.

The universal jointing means comprises a stem 8 fixed preferablycentrally on the upperside of the platform I of the holder, a bevelledor cone-shaped collar 9 fixed on the stem 8, a

clamping plate I0 about the stem 8 and having an orifice II to fit thebevelled or cone-shaped surface of the collar 9, a second clamping plateI3 about the stem 8 and having an orifice I4, a bevelled or cone-shapedcollar I5 loose on the stem 8 and fitting into the orifice I4 of theclamping plate I3, and a knurled or winged nut I6 screw threaded on thefree end of the stem 8. The collar 9 is fixed preferably to the stem 8at a distance (indicated at I1) along the stem 8 away from the uppersurface of the platform I to allow for freedom of movement of theclamping plate I8 so that in adjusting the platform I, the latter is notblocked by the plate Ill.

The clamping plates I0 and I3 are bored with their respective orificesII and I4 receiving, in one case, the bevelled or cone-shaped surface I2of the collar 9 and, in the other case, the bevelled or cone-shapedsurface lid of the collar I5. Further the clamping plates I0 and I3 arecircular and of lesser diameter than the width of the platform I, andthe outer surfaces of the clamping plates I0 and I3, as illustrated inFigures 1 and 3 of the drawings, are bevelled radially outwardly fromtheir orifices II and I 4 to their peripheries, in the form of lowdomes. Thus, the clamping plates I0 and I3 are interchangeable and thebevelled outer surfaces of the clamping plates I0 and I3 ensure thelocking of the joint Without blocking the platform I when the clampingplates I0 and I3 are applied to varying thicknesses or sizes ofsupporting jaws or arms I8. Also the opposed surfaces of the clampingplates I0 and I3 may be roughened or otherwise shaped to assist inclamping the supporting jaw I8 or the like therebetween.

In carrying out the invention, a bite block, model or the like 1 isplaced on the platform I, the screw bolts 2 are manipulated and adjustedaccording to the size of the bite block, model or the like 1, and thescrew bolts 2 are screwed in to engage with and hold the bite block,model or the like 1 on the platform I against the latters serrated edge6.

The universal jointing and locking means is then placed on the support,such as a jaw or bifurcated arm I8 of an articulator, with the jaw orarm I8 between the clamping plates I0 and I3, and the stem 8 is passedthrough a hole, slot or opening I9 in the supporting jaw or arm I8 withthe latter between the clamping plates I0 and I3. The hole, slot oropening I9 in the supporting jaw or arm I8 has ample room and play toallow the stem 8 to be slipped or positioned without the stem 8 bindingon the supporting jaw or arm 18. Thus, by adjusting the stem 8 and theplates l and 13 on the supporting jaw or arm I8 and with the orifices IIand I4 of the clamping plates 10 and I3 adjustable on and over thebevelled or cone-shaped surfaces. [2 and, l5a of the collars 9 and I5,any desired adjustment of the holder platform I in relation to thesupporting jaw or arm Hi can be made within the limits of theuniversality of the joint. On making the desired adjustmentasaforesaid;.the:

nut 16 is set up on the stem 8 and bears against the collar [5 to drawthe latter, and the clampingplates I0, and I3 together against thecollar. 9 on. the stem 8 to bind the clamping plates in, 13:11.0 thesupporting jaw or arm 18 held therebetween and to lock the joint in thedesired position as may be required. By loosening the nut 16 on the stem8 a new adjustment may; be made; andthe;

joint locked again in the new position: by'tig'hten on said stemadjacent the holder, the said collar having a conical; surface; a,second. collar loose on said stem and engaged by the jam nut, saidsecond collar having a conical surface and each of said conical surfacesengaging the wall of a central conical passage of a plate so that each Vof: said plates v isv movable about its collar to adjust a bite block,said jam nut being capable of being setup on the stem to retain anadjustment of. the bite block by the plates gripping the branches, of.the jaw disposed therebetween.

ing, up the nut l6; as aforesaid; as; usedxin connection with 1articulators an; adjustment; and, if necessary, a new adjustment, can bemadeabertween bite-blocks and upper and lower: teethof at denture toposition the latter accuratelyand: correctly.

While this, invention has been, described and particnlarized withreference to dentistry and more particularly to articulators. used indental- Work and in making; dentures, the invention can be applied. and:adapted to other purposes, where adjustmentis; desired, between aholdingv meansand; a supporting; means by a universaljoint. that; canbelocked in a desired position when desired adjustment and; Positioninghas been made.

Whatldo claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates of -America is 1. In a device for mounting a holder for-a biteblock in a dental articulator, the combination of ajaw having twobranches mounted on. the articulator; a stem, mounted on the holder andloosely embraced by said jaw; a collar fixed onv said stem and having: aconical surface; a plate having a central? conical passage; in whichsaid surface-isjdisposed; a second collar loose onsaid stem. and havinga conical. surface; a second-platehaving a. central conical passage inwhich said:

second, surface is disposed;. andajam nut... r

threaded on said stem for engagement against. said second collar-whenvset. up on saidstem, said plates being adapted to grip-the branches of-the jaw disposed therebetween when the nut; is so:

set-up.

3. A device for mounting a holder for a bite block in a dentalarticulator, the combination of a jaw having two branches mounted on thearticulator; a: stem mounted; on the holder and looselyembracedby sa djaw; aj m ufi t a -Edi on said stem; a, pair of plates. each; circularin construction,v and each having: a flat surface-and. a surfacetapering towards the: periphery of. the. plateand each having, a flatsurface of the plates opposed to each other. andieachi having a central;

conical passage: made therein; a. spacer'fixed: on;

the. stem adjacent, the holder; a collar fixed on saidv stem, adjacent;the spacer, the said collar,

having; a conical surface; a second collar: loose:

on. said stem and engaged. bythe jamnut, said. second collar having aconical surface, and. each. of: said conical surfaces engaging the wallof, a centralv conical passage of. aplate sojtha-t each of, saidplatesismovable about its collar without-the periphery of the: plate on:the fi-xecl collar: con tasting; the holder to adjust. a: bite block,said jam,

nut being; capable of, being; setup: on: they stem to:

retain an adjustment. of the bite block by; the;

7 plates gripping; the branches of the'jaw disposed.

therebetween.

' WALTER DE 7 REFERENCES erran- I The: following referencesv are: ofrecord in the fil'ez of this patent:

I UNITED. STATES. PATENTS Number Name, Date 537,812 Bragg; April. 23,.1895-- 981,430. Kennedy J an. 10,, 1:91 1;

FOREIGN PATENTS I Number Country Date. I

Great Britain. Dec. 8,;1921

